Animal Cell Metaphor: How a Cell is Like a Factory

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Transcript of Animal Cell Metaphor: How a Cell is Like a Factory

How an animal cell is like a factory The animal cell This is an animal cell. As you can see on the picture, the cell is made up of many parts and processes, like a factory. In this presentation we will be exploring each of the major parts, or organelles, of the animal cell, and how they would relate to a real life system, such as a factory. Enjoy the show. Proteins Proteins act as the chief export of a cell, being primarilywhat the cell makes inside itself, during its life span. They are created in the cell by ribosomes and, once made, are sent to the Golgi Apparatus. Proteins have many purposes inside the cell, but sticking to the metaphor, they are like the main product of a factory; say shoes for example. The Nucleus The Nucleolus The nucleus is the "brain" of the cell. It controls the cell's activities and sends out instructions to the rest of the cell on how it should function. In relation to our metaphor, the nucleus is the boss's office of the factory. From the office, similar to a nucleus, instructions are send out on how to maintain and run the factory. In addition to that the office also sends out directions for the processing of "shoes" (our example for proteins). The nucleolus is located in the center of the nucleus and isprimarily used for creating and sending out ribosomes. Now if the nucleus is the boss's office in our story than naturally the nucleolus is the boss. Like a nucleolus, the boss's hires workers, (ribosomes), and sends them out into to their job. Sitting in the center his office, he acts as the center of the factory. Ribosomes Ribosomes are originally creating in the nucleolus, and then shipped out into the endoplasmic reticulum. Though some can be found in the cytoplasm of the cell, many of them are found here in the endoplasmic reticulum.The purpose of ribosomes in cells, is to make proteins. Like the workers in our factory, their goal is to make the desired product of the system. Endoplasmic Reticulum The endoplasmic reticulum acts as the "highway of the cell", allowing things in the cell to move through it to get to other areas. Besides this, the other purposes of the endoplasmic reticulum lies within the 2 regions that make it up, the rough endoplasmic reticulum, (R.E. or R.E.R. for short), and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, (S.E. or S.E.R. for short). In the R.E., the area is covered with ribosomes from the nucleolus. As a result, its other purpose is to create proteins which are then shipped to the Golgi Apparatus. In the S.E., the other purpose of the area is to create fats and oils for the cell, which are then shipped out. In relation to our metaphor, the endoplasmic reticulum is the convertor belt of the factory. Workers line up along the belt making "shoes", (our proteins), on it while side workers make complimentary laces and shoe polish, (fats and oils). Then when done, finished products move down along belt to other parts of the factory. Golgi Apparatus The Golgi Apparatus are where proteins are sent, via endoplasmic reticulum, to be stored, packaged, and transported. Many proteins here will be used to create vesicles for the cell. As a factory, the Golgi Apparatus is like the packaging room of the factory, packaging and or storing main products for later shipping. Vesicles Lysosomes Mitochondria Plasma Membrane Cytoskeleton Lysosomes are where damaged parts of the cell and or bacteria/viruses are sent to be broken down. After being broken down, waste is removed from the lysosome and is then sent out of the cell. In terms of a factory, the recycling room is like the lysosome. Just like the organelle, the room breaks down bad products and broken equipment and then finds a way to dispose of the aftermath. Mitochondria act as the "power house" of cell, giving it energy to function. In a factory generators would be our mitochondria, giving the place power to function and run. The end So that is how a factory is like an animal cell. Just as we people have many systems running and working throughout our body, so too do our very cells. From the giant mechanical system of a factory or business to the tiny biological systems of cells and body, everything in this world runs on a system. It just up to you to see it. The purpose of Vesicles are to store/transport nutrients, waste, and other substances in the cell. In relation to a factory, the vesicles are like a factory's break room. In a break room, workers get to eat, drink, and use the bathroom (obtain nutrients, and deposit waste). Just like vesicles, the break room acts as a place for these sort of activities to be stored and later used. The plasma membrane acts as the protective barrier of the cell. It is made up of a double layer of phosolipids, and is what chooses to let substances in and out of the cell. In a factory, the plasma membrane would be the factory's walls. The great walls of a factory act as main protection for factory's processes and property, allowing only those with the right clearance to enter or leave place through its strong factory wall doors. The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers, made up of protein filaments, that maintains and supports the cell's shape. They are kind of like the support beams in factory, where a network of steel beams holds up and maintains the structure of the factory, keeping it in place and protecting the processes inside.